Baby Abigail

Charlotte thank you very much for the update and picture; I will continue to keep my little cousin in my thoughts and prayers.  As always, I am forwarding to my friends and church.  Special hugs to you and everyone in Abigail’s life.

Hugs,

Sandy

Hello to all!  As Christmas approaches and the year comes to an end, I wanted to update you all on Abigail's status.   She has done fantastic with her heart condition. She remains healthy and strong and has had no complications, so far. As it stands, we may still be looking at surgery sometime during the summer. With the mercy God has shown already, don't be surprised when we're told surgery is no longer necessary! That's the hope we're clinging to! More recently, we have suspected food allergy in Abigail. Because she is breastfed, it is very difficult to determine the culprit. After removing all dairy and soy products from my diet, her symptoms have not improved. We were referred to a gastrointestinal specialist who admitted us to Texas Children's Hospital for observation and testing. She has now been diagnosed with severe allergic colitis. Her colon is in pretty bad shape. She has multiple ulcers and bleeding. The doctor said it is one of the worst cases he has seen in a long time.  Of course, as her mommy, this just breaks my  heart. I told the doctors I wanted to do whatever would be best for her. Breast milk is usually best, but with the allergy source unknown and the damage so bad, he wants her to get healing immediately. So, he has recommended Neocate formula. This is an Amino Acid formula, manufactured in the UK....and yes, it is 6x the price of regular infant formula!!! It is available only online and Texas does not participate in the legislated insurance reimbursement plan for the formula. You can imagine our shock! But, this is our special little Pearl. The Lord has taken such good care of her and all of our needs. We are so incredibly blessed. We will  continue to trust in Him. Abigail is back at home smiling, gurgling and cooing! We would however, greatly appreciate your prayers as Abigail and I make the transition to this special formula. It won't be easy, but it will speed the healing of her tummy! This past year has created an amazing new chapter for our family. Samantha has  been able to experience the joy that only a sister can bring. Doug and I have been fortunate to experience parenthood with more maturity and we all have learned to look outside of ourselves and our own understanding and wait patiently on the Lord. We have been humbled by the outpouring of love and support you have all given. Your prayers, thoughts, reassuring words and actions have blessed us forever. May you reflect on the blessings of 2008 and rejoice for those to come in 2009!! Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! xoxo, Andrea (Doug, Samantha and Pearlie, too!)  She was such a brave girl!!!

My baby

My baby came home from Seattle, YEAH!!  I sure am glad to see her.  It's been 6 months since we have seen her.  That is way to long to go without seeing your child.  She is going to stay with us for 2 weeks.  I am so happy.  Here she is right this minute...

...I guess it was a long trip.  She is exhausted, but I will take her anyway I can get her.

Hey ... guess what.

It’s friday!!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND !!! I WILL J

Hugs

Here is what I have been up to...

The YLD means You loving Daughter. I started that when i was in high school, I was leaving a note for my parents and running over to a friends house.

As you can tell this is a gift for my Mom for Christmas.

I hope you have a lovely day.

A finished present

Turkey Day

I hope your day is extra special.

With love Sandy!

My thoughts

My thoughts and prayers are with those that are affected by the terrist attacks in India.  So far in Mumbai they have confirmed 101 killed and 280 injured.  I pray that this will end without any further loss of life.  I pray that the hostages will soon be released.

Hard days

Well I did it now, I had dinner on my plate and all I had to do was hold onto it.  Well you guessed ... the dogs really enjoyed my dinner.  It happened so fast my plate barely tilted.  Then came the hot chicken and gravy ... it hit my arm then the arm of my wheelchair.  Then of course the mess hit my knee slide down my leg, part of it landed on my foot rest and don't let me forget that as I was right next to the cabinet it hit the cabinet door and the gravy ran down the door leaving carrots and peas seemingly glued to the door.  Lucky for me that it was late enough that I didn't feel weird changing into my nightie.  Course I had to get the dress off quickly because it was adding insult to injury by continuing to burn me.

Well lets just say the dogs really enjoyed dinner.

I am dead tired.  Y'all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Hello

Howdy :)  This was another wake up at dark thirty day.  My sweet DH didn't turn on the heater last night ... it was the first time since some time last week that I didn't wake up feeling like I was on fire.  Inside the house it was a wonderful 60*F.  I wish I could have slept in a little longer but since I went to bed last night around 8:15, I should have expected it.  I could not keep my eyes open.  When your head hits your desk for the fourteenth thousandth time, it is time to go to bed.

Yesterday was a really good day and I can't even begin to tell you why.  I don't even know that I did anything special or out of the ordinary.  But, just maybe it is because we are entering the holiday season.  I love the holidays because everyone I know is in such a good mood.  They are bound to all feel the joy of being alive and that in itself is a miracle.  If you think about this bag of bones being capable of so much and we have come so far from the cavemen or apes or whatever you think we started out as.  It is just amazing.  Of course we still have a ways to go, and grow as individuals and communities.  Their is always room for improvement.  I can only hope that I come somewhat close to the potential God has planned for me.

Hey, I have a question for you ... What do you want to be when you grow up?  Do you think you can reach your potential?  Do you think that if you reach your potential it will bring you happiness or wealth? If you had to chose just one happiness or wealth which would you pick? Okay, so that was more than one question.

I hope this day greets you with joy and happiness.

I finished two more

 I have two new cross stitch finishes.  Well I say two but they came from one pattern.  It's the Cancer Awareness Blackwork By Kristine Herber.  I did the top portion on one piece of fabric and the bottom on another.  Now I am trying to finish it into a biscornu.  It is more difficult than I thought it would be because of very little edge to this fabric.  If I had count the piece I might have picked a larger piece of fabric but I was trying to use a scrap of fabric.  

I chose to stitch the first half with DMC Variations 4180 in honor of my Mom and Aunt

 Sissy surviving breast cancer.  The bottom half "Hope"  side I used Waterlilies Parfait 023 by Caron, it is an over dyed floss.  I chose because it has yellow and lavender, these colors represent Support Our Troops and General Cancer. I don't know if brain tumors have a color but I have decided to me it will be blue, so that and the lavender and blue are in honor of  my DH.  

Fortune cookie for today:  "Others are deeply moved by your presence."

I hope that you are having a wonderful day.

Hugs

Another one bites the dust

I finished another Christmas present last night. I am finally starting to feel like I am accomplishing some of my Christmas presents. I had felt like OMG its almost Christmas, what am I going to do ... but now I have two done and I don't know how many started. Now things are looking up :)






My new finish is called My scarf has a hole in it. I saw it on a show called Knitty Gritty. I used to love watching that show with its host Vicki Howell. Unfortunately, DIY decided to stop making it and now they put into reruns and show it about 4:00 am or sometime around there. And what can I say if I have had a good night then I am sleeping soundly.


Anyway, I couldn't find the pattern so I made it up. I sure hope this present is received with happiness and joy.

Woohoo!

I have some exciting news to share. I got word from my doctor that I can stop taking my blood pressure medication. I am so excited I could burst. I have to self monitor and keep a log but hey that's easy. I think it is time to have a party. So lets all grab our party hats and run out the door screaming. giggle Everybody will think we have gone stark raving mad.

Hugs to all and a good night too.

STUFF

Lately, I have been working on Christmas presents. It gives me such joy to make handmade presents for my family to open on Christmas. I finished my Grandma's present this week. I think the pictures will help you to understand but I will call it a soap cozy. The good thing is that you don't have to use it in that way for instance you could put Kleenex in it, or maybe your camera, etc.

I hope I get to see the Barbra Walters Show tonight. This is when she airs her show called 'What is a Man, What is a Woman'. From the 'tease' they had on 'The View' this morning it will be a very interesting show. She showed a snippet of the show this morning, I hope we can all rap our heads around this idea, that sounds weird in my head, but I don't know how else to say it. I realized today just how controversial this topic is as I watched my good friends fighting over it. My little Sister tried to intervene and it seemed to cause more friction between the ones fighting. I thought about it for a few hours and decided just how I thought was the best way to intervene.

Here is the email I sent to my friends: At the risk of making all of you hate me, I am asking you please stop all arguing. Remember that we are all friends and what it is that makes our club special. We have all been tolerant of each other and each other’s beliefs for about 9 years now. We are a special group of ladies that share our crafts and our lives.

You have helped me personally me through my MS diagnosis acceptance, which celebrated its 10 year anniversary. I privately celebrated it by making the decision that I will walk again. That is unimportant at this moment. My point is that I love each and every one of you and I hope that you do the same. We are so special. Some of you I have met in person and have had the privilege of inviting you into my home. I wish that everybody could come for a visit. I promise not to charge you rent.

Also during this time, we have watched each others children grow up and become young adults, marriage, and even births of grandchildren.

Please don’t throw away all of these wonderful years over something that we cannot change. Keep in mind this couple that has come out into the public eye, have done so bravely. This isn’t the first man to have a child. Also, keep in mind the reason he kept his female reproductive organs is because his wife could not have a child, and he said those organs did not define him. If you want more information just tune your TV to the Barbra Walters show tonight EST 10 PM.

Now at this time, please stop all discussion on this matter and take a few days to think about things.

I have personally witnessed the fear of rejection in watching my in-law come out of the closet. Please show the bravery that she did by, in the fear of total rejection, coming forward.

Anyway, I hope that this gives you pause for thought before you react.

Hugs to all.

DD's scarf

DD's as promised I have 2 pictures of her scarf. As you can tell i used 3yarns together. There is a very light skinny pink yarn, a sorta sage green and lastly an off white yarn. I am knitting this on size 10 1/2 needles, to try to control the bulky yarn. I am really happy with the way they are turning out. Now it's is time to do something, y'all take care ya here.

Early bird

I guess I get the worm for today, as I woke up at 4 and got up at 5. The dogs have been outside, fed and watered. I haven't fed etc the fish cause I don't want them to get used to feeding this early.

As for me, I have made coffee, have my glass of water and taken my vitamins etc. But it is to early for me to eat, I have to be awake and alert, plus my Sweetpie is still in bed. I have also finished one of the scarfs my DD asked me to make and started another one. I can't wait to show her, I think she will be so pleased.

That's it for now, I will post a picture of the scarf as soon as I get it uploaded from my camera.

Y'all have a great day now, ya hear.

The Day After

I want to say that I look forward to ‘The View’ more than any other show throughout the week. I love the fact that no matter how hard you argue you still maintain your friendship. I have seen several sites that say some of the cast of 'The View' be fired, and some include polls. I am pleading with the hirer ups that they sign all of ya'll to a 5 or 10 year contract if that is your desire. Ya'll make the perfect team.

Now regarding the election and all the stuff that goes into it goes into the discussions, the press etc. I am beginning to think that the press has a lot to do with racism in America. They kept on bringing racism into the election. I proudly say that I am an American, my ancestors came from Ireland, Scotland, Germany and they married Cherokee and Choctaw. That is what makes America, we are the melting pot, we are all equal and all of us have a voice and the right to free speech. I will proudly say that I voted for President-Elect Obama. I pray that he and his family can stay healthy and help America come back from the economic and environmental disaster.

I do know that President-Elect Obama cannot fix it alone, as with the election it takes all of us to come together as one people. I believe that the election proved that everyone is able to rise as high as desired. You are only held back by your lack of trying, desire or education.

Hugs,

Sandy

Election Eve

Please go out and cast your vote, it's your turn to say what you think!

Welcome to November

I am having a real tough time believing its November. Well I have been awake for 3 hours now and up for 1 1/2 its hard to just lie there and play like I was asleep partly because I couldn't help but open my eyes to see if it was if it was light enough to get up. That is until I just gave up totally and got up. And do you know the sun still isn't awake enough to rise, its still pitch black out there.

I sure hope that somebody comes out and fixes the A/C its supposed to be hot again today. Yesterday as soon as the sun got below the house next door we opened everything we could open except you know, like the front door.

Well that's all i know for now, talk with y'all later.

Holy Cow!

Doesn't my dear friend look lovely today!

Yeah It's Friday

Well lets see, what has happened around here the last few days... oh on Monday I started having an allergic reaction. By Wednesday my nurse was calling the doctor. It is considered a minor reaction .. I have a rash from head to toe and even my hair itches. Outside of that I am doing pretty good.

I am working on a Breast Cancer cross stitch project its small which is very good because I still have a ways to go.

Oh I have forgotten to tell you our air conditioner is broken. Someone is suppose to come out here. I sure will be happy when they get her. We realized it was broken yesterday evening when it was 74 outside and 83 inside. Course the A/C was set at 72.

Well I hope you have a scary Halloween.

Hugs,

Sandy

Hey we woke up

It's a good thing to because I couldn't be having so much fun and you wouldn't be able to read this wonderful blog.

This is my beautiful daughter and a friend during the play "The Taming of the Shrew"". Does she look Shakespearean? You know we are proud of her.

Here is my older daughter and her fiance' --

I am very proud of her. This was taken right after her graduation from TCU.

They are getting married next summer. I am so happy for them.

Hugs!

I have an update

Here is my update on my SAL. Not much to show for it.

Hugs

ICKY!

I feel icky. I haven't felt myself for a couple of weeks. I finally found out why. I have a staph infection. To top that off, I haven't felt like stitching or knitting, and boy do I have a boat load of projects for Christmas.

I was just sitting here wondering what everybody is thinking about the voting issues in Florida and Colorado happening already this year. I have been thinking what could we do to end these complications? I almost think that what we need to do is a thumb print identification. I see at least 2 problems with this method. First, their isn't one source for identifying fingerprints. Their happens to be a "to the best of my ability or human factor involved". Secondly, how do you handle those individuals that are home bound or hospitalized when voting using fingerprint identification. This has almost become the old game of stepping on the cracks in the sidewalk or not to.

Question for thought ... do you believe that the answer to the bad economy is bailing out the banks and handing Americans another check in hopes that "we" will spend the money? Also, will you spend the money or hold onto it with tight fists?

I know one thing for sure.. I am tired of all the slamming happening in the election. If they (the politician's) think that the way into our hearts and win the votes of the citizens is through cutting down what your opponent says and then forcing them to spend half there time defend themselves. They have another thing coming. This doesn't give our citizens a chance to prove that we have the brain power to elect the candidates based upon who we think will do a better job, sometimes we vote for the candidate that didn't sling as much mud. Because he did spend more time talking about his/her plan.

Hugs

The end of The Tamming of the the Shrew

Hi, I know that I haven’t posted in a few days but I have been not feeling good. I was on some medication that just upset my tummy. Okay enough of that. Let’s get on with the show.

The show was great. I actually enjoyed it more with the college theatre actor’s and actress’s than when I saw at the Music Hall with the professions. It was funny and surprising … they did it in the Italian Renaissance format. They spoke in Shakespearian old English. The jester character was hilarious. They had a fountain with running water and she actually got shoved down in it. When she got out she was soaked. Sometimes she stole the show. Because 1 girl dropped out of the play and 2 boys got sent to Iraq they had to change things over and over. My DD played the widow and she didn’t speak at all in the first act but she had quite a number of lines in the second act. The on Friday one of the girls sprang her foot and was unable to go on so, they had to do a lot of improvisation to make it work. I wish that I had been able to see the improvisation, but was very sorry to hear about the injury.

Well I am exhaust so I will have to let this do for tonight.

Hugs,

Sandy

My Photo's

The Taming of the Shrew

The Taming Of The Shrew

Shakespeare's Timeless Romantic Romp

Hey today is or should I say tonight is opening night for ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. My youngest DD is in the production. She loves performing, she always has. When she is awake and happy, she is singing. LOL You never know what she will be singing, it could be from a musical or from her favorite band. She has a wonderful voice and definitely can be heard on the last row of the theatre. We are going to see the performance on Thursday, they have 2 performance’s that day.


I haven’t done much today. I have had a stomach ache since yesterday late morning. I wish it would just go away.

We talked with our oldest DD a couple of days ago, she is so homesick. But oh so busy, she has her grad classes, internship, a job, a work study job, and she volunteers at the police station. I am wondering when she breaths and sleeps.

Hugs,

Sandy

Gooooood Mornin' to ya!

Good morning, I sure hope that you have a wonderful day planned. As most of you have to go to work, I only ask that you do 2 things for me. Smile and have a happy day. I know about the economy EVERYWHERE, but if you can't fix it today then smile and be happy you are alive. Meditate, pray, light candles whatever it is that you do to "center" yourself and be happy. I will be doing that for you today. Just think if everyone picked someone maybe the person on the bus next to them or the one asking for a bed for the night. Then maybe just maybe peace could settle upon us.

Okay, I hear you that may sound crazy, but I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and when he walked into the room I said "Isn't it a wonderful day" and he said "I don't know" and then he said "I haven't looked outside today, is it pretty outside?" and of course I had to reply so I said "I don't know I didn't pay any attention to the weather, but isn't it a wonderful day". It is a wonderful day to breath in and out, to see a smile on a friends face, to be alive.

I hope that you have a smile on your face and think of your child as you helped them back upon there bicycle or your mother as you help her cook Thanksgiving dinner or watch her open a gift you have just given her. The world may feel harsh and hard, but you may make somebodies day better just by smiling. Or saying have a good day before you leave your home maybe even to the cat. It is hard to be mad if you say have a good day to your parrot. This world could be so much better if we turn our thoughts to others and not just think of me, me, me all the time.

Hugs to you all,

Sandy

Welcome to Sunday

It’s footballlllll!  I am really looking forward to the Cowboy’s football game.  In the NFC East as you know we have The Boy’s, Eagles, Redskins, and the Giants.  I really try to watch all 4 teams play.  Sometimes they make that impossible because they may not show one or more of the games here.  Today I don’t think it’s possible because they play at the same time.  Oh well, sometimes it bee’s that way.  Well we only got watched 2 games today and I am sad to say that my boy’s didn’t win.  But, if they learned something then I can stop worrying about.  Actually, I still have faith in them to try their best. 

 

Today we spent cleaning the old fish tank.  You know I should have better names for them.  Lets see the old tank has a Bala Shark, Kisser Gourami, Opal Gourami, Gold Gourami, Chocolate Rhino Plecostomus, Cherry Barb, Zebra Danio.  That doesn’t help me name the tank anything better than old tank does.  Oh this is a hoot … I fed the fish in the old tank and came into the office area, well I didn’t know that my DH was choosing this time to move the big rock, well he stuck his hand in the tank and I heard a bunch of splashing and looked over and I guess DH got scared, giggle.  The shark splashed like a bucking bronco.  Now I have moved things a lot but not at feeding time.  Oh let me see if I have a picture of my old tank.  I have a few of the new tank in the album but it has changed so much that I need new pictures.

 

Thanks for the comments everybody.

 

Thanks for the comments Tdee “First.... Joy and Jeremy's butts aren't what make them a cute couple. LOL
I totally agree.
Second... Noel's first choice is not nursing? I thought that was her first choice.... now I am confused.
That paper wasn’t a list of her choices in order, it was her list of the steps she has to take to become an officer.
Third... You aren't that far behind me on the SAL. Nice work.”

Thanks it feels really far especially after I saw your new picture.

 

 

Hugs,

 

Sandy 

 

My Photo's

 

My MS donation website

 

Joy and Jeremy's Wedding Website

 

 

A week of my life

Okay, here is my SAL and sob I am way behind.




Annabelle and Lucy are hoping for a treat. Little do
they know ... my will is stronger than theirs.





We got our work out today with cleaning out fish tanks. Yesterday we defrosted the refrigerator, I know you are thinking who in the heck doesn't have a frost free fridge. Well we inherited a real short one and so we keep our drinks in it. And you guessed it, we had to defrost it. The ice layer was about a half an inch thick and we had talked about doing it for a couple of weeks.


I may have made one stitch in my SAL today but alas I just ran out of energy.

Just another Thursday

I was just having the typical Thursday this morning. Then this afternoon things went down hill with computer problems. At first I just wanted to back up my documents. Error after error it even said that I didn’t have a disc in the drive and it would open it and I would look down and there it would be plain as day. I finally got so frustrated that I said stupid computer you just spit it out again. So I stuck the XP disc in hoping I could fix that problem and it started downloading Japanese. That’s okay if you can read and speak Japanese. I just hope I don’t have to learn it to type on my computer tomorrow. Then I opened my daughters lap top and it started running the anti-virus that was this afternoon and it is still running now as I type on mine. I guess I hadn’t turned it on in a bit (maybe it had lots of updates to do) but who knows. I was trying to load some pictures when it started but that was hours ago, I didn’t even notice that it had started for a bit.

Well I hope y’all have had a good day.

Hugs,

Sandy

Navy

This is the guide that my youngest drew for me when she was explaining the new program she is in with the Navy. She has passed everything so far and is in line with the middle section and is working on trying for the bottom section. I hope she makes it. We are doing everything we can to help her succeed.

Welcome to Tuesday

Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. It is a beautiful day, the sky is the perfect shade of blue, I do see a few lingering clouds and the tree's are blowing but that's a good thing so maybe it won't be a billion (slight exaggeration) degree's today.


I have a touch of a headache today right in the center of my forehead and my left temple. I think it is sinus related (here in the allergy capital) but it could be stress. There is always that possibility.


I made pretty good progress on the bumble bee I am stitching as a SAL with some of my favorite people in the world. If I can make the same kind of progress today I will post a picture in here.


I don't think I posted that my baby girl decided to join the Navy. Right now she is in a special program (never tried before) where they pay you "x" amount and you have to go to college for 2 years. She was already in college but with this program they give you money every month. She is really happy about her decision. Right now she considers herself to be in Navy Limbo, because her ship-out date is in January, but because she qualified for this new program she gets to change her ship-out date to June. But the wrinkle in this is that she is trying to receive a ROTC scholarship and so if she gets that she will go to school to get her 4 year degree then ship out. That is what she really wants but she is trying not to count on it. The only way she can go to her big sisters wedding is if she gets the scholarship, and it is really important to her. We are really proud of her. I keep telling her she is really brave.



Now for my "bundle of Joy" she is in grad school in Washington. Yes she is a husky. She is engaged to a wonderful guy. I think they make a beautiful couple, don't you. She is planning the wedding for as soon as she graduates.


Well now I need to fix another cup of coffee. Talk to you kids later. Hugs

October 6, 2008

Today it is rainy and damp outside. I am almost ready to take a picture of my Cowboy gauntlet that I am knitting. Also, I am attempting sock from the toe up for the first time. I think I am happy with it, at least at this point. I also have scarfs to make and top for my youngest daughter. And last but not least I am making a sweater for my Mom.

I think I will pick up where I left off yesterday with my new SAL for my Cross Stitch Group. I also have to start 2 cross-stitch projects that are presents, hopefully for this Christmas. I have a few surprises going that I hope to get them finished by Christmas also.

I will add more later today.

Sandyscrossstitch

I Iove Cross Stitching.

I also knit so from time to time you will see pictures of my work.

Life is beautiful, isn't it.

Here is my family.